The command to John in Revelation 1, verse nineteen gives the key to the book of Revelation. Understanding revelation is dependent upon using the key.
Understanding Revelation Commentary 24
Rev. 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
The beast and the false prophet have been cast into the lake of fire. Rev. 19:20. The false prophet being the second beast from the land. Rev. 13:11. We will never hear from these two again. But the dragon, the serpent of old is bound in the bottomless pit for the entire thousand year rule and reign of Christ on the earth. After which he will be loosed for a little season to test those upon the earth.
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Tribulation saints will be living and reigning with Christ during the millennial age. They are part of the first resurrection.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
All those who take part in the first resurrection shall rule and reign with Christ during the millennial age. This would include all those caught up to meet Him in the air. 1 Thess. 4:15.
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
It’s hard to believe that people who number as the sand of the sea will be deceived and rebel against the Lord. After a glorious time of His ruling and reigning on the earth!
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Now the devil joins the beast and the false prophet in the lake of fire. All three will never be heard from again!
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Now comes judgement for all people from all the ages. This is the second death. VS 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power!
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.